Children’s Books | Book Lists & Resources
Children’s books can shape the minds and hearts of children. They can be entertaining with fun stories and illustrations, but they also teach early reading skills and help develop empathy and critical thinking skills. I want to share about the joy of children’s books, and why they can be so impactful to children, how to choose the right books, several booklists, and resources for parents going forward as they read to their children. Onward!
“Richer than I you can never be–
I had a Mother who read to me.”–Poem by Strickland Gillilan
1. Why Children’s Books Matter?
There have been many studies done that show that children’s books not only foster a love of reading at a young age, but they also can enrich family bonds through a shared experience of reading! Reading children’s books to your child not only offers opportunities for connection but also an opportunity to develop a life-long love of reading and learning. What a wonderful gift to give your child!
Photo courtesy of Jessica Chappell
Stories can be magical in their ability to transport us to worlds beyond our own, where our imagination can take flight and anything becomes possible, even for adults! Even more so for children, stories can be a gateway to adventure, wonder, and discovery. They ignite creativity and imagination by painting vivid pictures in their young minds and inspire dreams that feel within reach as they grow. Stories can spark curiosity and foster critical thinking, making them become a cornerstone for a love of lifelong learning and emotional intelligence. Stories equal Magic!
“Children who are read to have a broader vocabulary, enhanced listening skills, and better comprehension.”
2. How to Choose the Right Books for Your Children
When you are trying to choose children’s books to read to your child, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to help you decide.
- Would I read this book to just myself?
- Are the illustrations engaging and beautiful?
- Does this encourage my child toward kindness, courage, and their Faith?
- Will the ideas in this book grow the mind of my child?
- Is this a book I would want to read over and over again to my child? (Trust me, this matters!)
3. Must-Have Children’s Book Categories
Choosing books for your children can vary by age, interests, season, and even gender. Here are a few recommendations for some different ages, reading levels, and categories:
- Toddler : We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
- Counting and Numbers : Our Little Adventures Book Set
- Animals : Our Animal Friends
- early Reader : Mouse Soup
- Fairy Tales / Folklore : Fairy Tales for Brave Children
- Fables: Fables by Arnold Lobel
- Nursery Rhymes: Read to Your Baby Every Day : 30 Classic Nursery Rhymes to Read Aloud
- Treasury: James Herriot’s Treasury for Children
- Short Read Aloud Chapter Book: Charlotte’s Web
- Lift-the-Flap : Dear Zoo
- Mystery Series : The Boxcar Children
- Children’s Christian Classic: Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrims Progress
- Adventure : Swallows and Amazons
- Christmas : The Tale of the Three Trees
- Easter : The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross
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4. Creating a Home Library
Organizing a home library can be a daunting task. I have my personal home library shelves organized by topic. Examples of this are:
- Paperback picture books
- Hardback picture books
- Nature and Science
- History
- Classic literature hardbacks
- Paperback Chapter Books
- Early Readers
- Board Books
My biggest tip for organizing and displaying books to read aloud is to have them accessible. Whether it be by bookshelves or floating shelves, baskets, or bookstands. My dream has been to one of those tiered display bookshelves for holding
picture books. I love how they are at the child’s level and are all forward-facing.
RELATED POST: Children’s Books to Read Aloud | Picture Books
One thing that I plan to do this next year is to order a scanner and get all my books cataloged. This allows for me to scan all my books and have them organized in an app like Libby. That way I am able to quickly check and see if I have a book while I am out thrifting or looking through book lists.
Encouraging your children to care for books is a lifetime endeavor! I will not even pretend that my toddlers haven’t torn up board books or ripped a paperback book every now and then. It happens! I always like to remind my children that books are our friends, and we need to take care of them and be gentle with them. It takes time. I love buying each of my kids their own copies of their favorite books for Christmas so they can have ownership of their books and grow to treasure them.
5. What are some children’s books to read?
I have several different book lists to help you choose books for your children, these include:
6. How to Engage With Your Kids While Reading Children’s Books Aloud
There are many ways to engage with your children while reading. You just have to get a little creative and put forth a little effort. It can be so rewarding to watch your family blossom and create connections by reading together. My top ideas are:
- Using different voices and accents while reading can make the experience so fun. (My children love a British accent while I read!)
- Using props likes puppets
- Making a meal or a treat from the book you’re reading, like butterbeer for Harry Potter or Turkish Delight from The Chronicles of Narnia.
- Incorporating crafts or activités that go along with your books.
- Taking turns reading aloud with your child.
- Having a set time every day to read with your child like tea time or before bed.
7. Resources for Parents
- Your local library is an invaluable resource. They have so many events and storytime opportunities. They are very helpful and knowledgeable.
- I personally love building my home library as much as I can as my budget allows, and buying books from places like Thriftbooks, Ebay, AbeBooks, Facebook Marketplace, and while I am out thrifting has been so great for finding deals.
- Finding other book blogs or utilizing GoodReads for books recommendations or reviews.
- Book Lists are so helpful. I love these:
There is so much joy to be found while reading books with your children. It is such a worthwhile endeavor and investment for your family. Reading books to your children will never be wasted time. I hope you take time to enjoy a book with your child this week!
I hope this resource blesses you and your family this year!
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cover photo courtesy of @bestillstudios
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